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New Leaders Announced for Memphis City Council Committees

New leadership assignments for Memphis City Council committees were announced Monday morning in the first public move by new council chairman Jim Strickland.

Strickland

Committee leadership positions can be important. Those in chairman or vice chairman roles lead meetings and can use that influence to shape the debate on big issues. For example, Janis Fullilove used her position as chairwoman of the MLGW committee to slow (but not stop) the expansion of the city’s smart meter program.

But some council members will say the leadership roles carry little weight as no piece of legislation can be stopped in council committees and must go before the full council for a vote. Strickland has said that while he kept his budget meetings moving ahead and usually on time in 2013, his position gave him little sway over the final approved budget.

The new committee assignments have a couple of shake-ups but many leadership positions remained as they were in 2013.

Fullilove was pulled as chairwoman of the MLGW committee but will remain as a voting member of the committee. Myron Lowery will serve as its chairman. Bill Boyd will be the committee’s vice chairman.

Lee Harris will be the chairman of the budget committee in 2014. It’s a big leadership opportunity for Harris who has the least legislative experience of any on the council as he joined the body in 2011.